I made this post in 2020 and updated in 2022. After racing another full indoor season, it was time for an update. Of the three major HS/college running seasons- indoor is the one I've done the most. I've now run at least once winter indoor race every year consecutively since 2014-2015 with the exception of the 2020-2021 season due to injury (and limited races due to COVID). Whereas I've missed 3 XC seasons since starting HS and 3 outdoor seasons as well.
Over 8.5 years, I raced at 13 different facilities picking up 2 new ones this past season. The Northeast is the best place in the country for indoor track, if not the world so I was able to race at a lot of cool venues and high quality tracks. Here is the updated 2023 rankings. I copied the original 2020/2022 posts and added updates if necessary.
13. University of New Hampshire (Paul Sweet Oval)
Durham, NH
160m- flat (small bank)
# of Races run: 4
Current PRs at this track: 0
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| 01/26/2019 UNH vs Vermont vs Maine (DMR) |
I started this post a year ago (from 2020 post), at the conclusion of my 2018-2019 indoor season, and wrote a pretty negative review of the UNH track. While it still ranks last, it's absolutely grown on me to the point where I really don't mind doing workouts on it anymore whatsoever. That being said, it's still an undersized track and is pretty old, which makes races on it far from excellent. The biggest issue by far is that it's a 160 meter track. This not only makes the turns pretty tight, but the distances feel off for most people as they're used to a 200m track with nearly all races/distances being broken up into a whole number laps. Additionally, it's four lanes and not especially attractive. As far as 160m tracks go, it's probably not that bad but in the pool of all tracks, it doesn't hold up very well and for most teams that race here, it will likely be the worst venue they race at in the indoor season. The one redeeming factor is the massive conversion index for the NCAA. As a undersized track, these conversions are huge (5s for mile, 9s for 3K and 15s for 5K) and while it doesn't make the track any more fun to race on, it makes it much easier to hit a standard here than on a fast banked track because you can afford to run so much slower (while in reality the track is only a little bit slower).
Track Rating: C (likely would have given it an F last year)
Facility Notes: The field house is overall a pretty solid place to have practice, but it's a different story when it comes to meets. The indoor track takes up the vast majority of the room and the field events take up the infield (which wasn't very big to begin with). This leaves a very small space for teams to set up and even less space for spectators to watch. There are no bleachers or elevated seating for viewing and you pretty much have to just watch from the side of the track, if there's room. Bathrooms are limited as well. Overall, there's hardly any room to do anything even in pretty small meets.
Facility Rating: F
12. University of Vermont (Gardner-Collins Indoor Track)
Burlington, VT
160m- flat
# of races run: 1 (College)
This is the second and final 160m track I've raced on, and the shorter track is pretty much irredeemable. Other features included only 3 lanes, no bank at all, and being fairly old with a desperate need for resurfacing. It surpasses the UNH track despite looking much worse simply because the turns are slightly wider and less of a pain to run around. A marginal difference and still a poor track.
Track Rating: C
Facility Notes: This probably the tightest actual room around the track. Not only is it so small the track is only 3 lanes, but on the straightaways, lane 3 goes right up to the wall. It's such a small facility the long jump runaway is one of the lanes on the backstretch. There's pretty much one corner for spectators to watch and spectators weren't even allowed due to the lack of room. Fortunately, there is at least an upper level with another 3 lane practice track but even at that, it's still not a great area to watch from.
Facility Rating: F
11. Providence Career and Technical Academy
Providence, RI
200m- flat
# of Races Run: 37 (All HS)
-Injury Fund Relays
-RIIL Dual Meets
-RITCA Invitational
-RI Classic
-East Coast Invitational
-Class Championships
-Division Championships
-Freshman State Championships
-Last Chance Meet
-State Championships
Current PRs at this track: 2
600- 1:29.11 (01/10/2017) -have technically run faster, but fastest official time
1000- 2:38.25 (02/07/2017)
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| 2/18/2017 RI State Championships (3K) |
To be perfectly honest, I probably dislike this track more than UNH's, but simply because it's a standard 200m track I can not place it lower. Many RI high schooler's loathe this track, and for pretty good reason. Basically, the turns are extremely tight making races feel harder despite being slower and making it difficult to run a fast time here. Unfortunately, with the lack of indoor facilities in Rhode Island, so many indoor meets are contested here. After dozens of races here, I got pretty sick and tired of it.
2023 Notes: Apparently this got resurfaced. The old surface was definitely very worn out so it could be a little better now.
Track Rating: C+
Facility Notes: Despite how much a chore racing on this track is, the facility is solid overall. Unlike some of the more cramped facilities, there are several distinct areas including a hallway which is often used for warm-ups, a massive bathroom on the ground floor (perhaps the only track facility, indoor or outdoor, where I've never had to wait for a stall), the main track and an upstairs balcony seating area with a pretty good view of the track. I don't like the complete disconnect between the track level and spectating level and how spectators are prohibited from entering the track level. Additionally, it can definitely get crowded in the bigger meets but at least it's capable of hosting bigger meets to begin with.
Facility Rating: B
10. University of Rhode Island (Mackal Field House)
South Kingstown, RI
200m- flat
# of Races Run: 4
-URI Track Classic (HS)
-URI Coaches Tribute Invite (College)
Current PRs at this track: 1
1600- 4:30.48 (01/07/2017) -have technically run faster, but fastest official time
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| 1/07/2017 URI Track Classic (1k) |
My main complaint about this that it's a flat 200m track. The track is fairly new, has a nice surface and looks nice, but most flat tracks simply can't compete with banked tracks. The turns aren't ridiculously tight although the track still feels pretty slow. I've had never a bad experience racing here although I never look forward to racing here either. URI has a perfectly middle-of-the-track that's probably really nice to train on but is just okay for racing.
Track Rating: B-
2023 Notes: "Probably really nice to train on". I used the URI track for weekly workouts this winter and can say that I don't think it's a great track. I won't lower the ranking as its still better than the other ones below, but this track feels really slow and rarely ever sees fast times. I also found the air quality to be poor. It's fine overall, but is really just average for a 200m flat track at best.
Facility Notes: URI is more than capable of hosting pretty big meets as the facility is large and accommodating. The track level itself has a decent amount of room outside the track for setting up check-in, information or awards as well as several sets of bleachers for spectators or teams. Watching from the track level is nice and likely won't be too crowded and in addition, there's a overhead area that provides a great viewpoint although there's no seating up there. Since the track is connected to some other athletic facilities, there's plenty of room to move around or even go find somewhere else to sit/warm-up. It's the kind of facility that many nice banked tracks should have, but don't.
Facility Rating: A
9. Wheaton College (Bacon Field House)
Norton, MA
200m- flat
# of races run: 1
-USATF-NE Winter Series (Open)
# of PRs on this Track: 0
Opened my 2023 season here and the track was a bit better than expected. It's similar to URI's with turns that feel tight but I thought the material was better and had more grip as well as being slightly softer. Above average for a flat track. Purple color made it more interesting/distinct.
Track Rating: B
Facility Notes:
This was a quick in and out style meet, so I don't know how much of the field house would be available during a collegiate competition. That being said, the space seemed considerably more limited than URI's. I would imagine the bathroom fill up quickly in a larger meets as well as the lower ground space.
Facility Rating: C+
8. Dartmouth College (Leverone Field House)
Hanover, NH
200m- flat
# of Races Run: 1 (College)
Current PRs at this track: 1
5K- 15:28.60 (12/8/2018)
Last flat track on the list. While still having problems of flat tracks mentioned earlier, Dartmouth is the only flat track I've run on with turns wider than the straightaways. This seriously alleviates the tight turn problem and nearly removes the disadvantage of a flat track. I've always liked wider curves as opposed to longer straightaways as the straightaways are boring but a wider turn is less awkward to go around. This is absolutely the case here and the makes races here actually pretty enjoyable. It's still slower than a banked track, but is hands-on one of the best (200m) flat tracks you can run on.
Track Rating: B
Facility Notes: The facility feels pretty new and while it has more room than UNH, it's not by a lot. The meet I went to was just a regular quad meet so it was okay but with only several bleachers available and no additional seating areas, I imagine it must be extremely crowded and unpleasant during larger meets. Unlike URI, it's not connected to any additional facilities.
Facility Rating: C-
7. University of Maine (New Balance Field House)
Orono, ME
191m- banked
# of Races Run: 1
-UMaine Invitational (College)
This track looks old and not especially impressive at first glance, but is surprisingly enjoyable to race at. With a comfortable if slightly worn surface, a visually appealing blue color and an ideal shorter bank for the distance races, it's a solid track. The nice bank bumps it up a few points over any of the flat tracks as it'd certainly be easier to run a PR here, but the 191m distance is strange and prevents any distance from having even laps (the 3K is 15.71 laps, rendering the splits useless) so I can't put it on par with any of the 200m banks. It probably has a nicer feel to it than Yale which is steep and vibrates loudly, but Yale has even 200m laps which is more important. A small aspect I don't love and is probably unique to this track versus others on the list is that there are large pillars on the inside of the track rather than there being a completely clear view of the infield/across the track. It does make the track feel like less of an official venue and more of a practice facility.
Track Rating: B+
Facility Notes: This is a solid facility given that Maine doesn't host any really big meets. There's a large set of bleachers at the bottom of the track for spectators/team and a good amount of space on two sides of the track to move around or watch from. The track is also one room in a large building, so there's space to move around in the hallways.
Facility Rating: B-
6. Yale University (Coxe Cage)
New Haven, CT
200m- banked
# of Races Run: 3
-Yale Track Classic (HS)
Current PRs at this track: 1
3K- 8:44.64 (1/21/2017)
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| 01/21/2017 Yale Track Classic (3K) |
Yale is a banked 200m track, my least favorite but still far better than any flat track. I like that it is elevated (track is higher than surrounding floor and infield) but the bank has always felt a little too steep, even in lane 1 and it's a major problem that it's only 4 lanes as big races can get bunched up. Overall, it's a very solid and certainly fast track but very far from the best.
Track Rating: B+
Facility Notes: While the track is nice, the facility is an absolute abomination. There's a small amount of room outside the track, one side where athletes usually wait and another with seating. While there's a decent amount of seating, there's nowhere near enough to accommodate the massive meets it holds and it's a very real possibility that a spectator will be unable to find a seat or have a position where they can even the view the track. The athletes don't fare any better as they're cramped into an incredibly small area behind the track. The bathrooms are dirty and often have long lines. The warm-up areas outside are nice with the surrounding facility, but the actual coxe cage is congested to a disgusting point and it provides a lot of relief to escape.
Facility Rating: F
5. Reggie Lewis Athletic Center
Boston, MA
200m- banked
# of Races Run: 5
-New Englands (HS)
-New Englands (College)
Current PRs at this track: 0
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| 02/28/2016 New England Championships (2 Mile) |
Reggie Lewis is a very nice track that many people accordingly run pretty fast times on. For whatever reason, I don't seem to like it as much as BU or Harvard despite being fairly similar, the only valid complaint I have is that the bank could be a little steeper. I've never really raced well here but it's a great track.
Track Rating: A-
Facility Notes: The Reggie Lewis facility is decently sized with several hallways, bathrooms and a gym that athletes usually hang out in. The track area itself isn't that big (although it's certainly not small either) and in large meets can feel crowded. The seating is pretty old and not very comfortable. In the larger meets, there's usually long lines for the bathroom.
Facility Rating: B
4. Boston University (BU Track and Tennis Center)
Boston, MA
200m- banked
# of Races Run: 3
-BU Mini Meet (College)
-America East Championships (College)
Current PRs at this track: 0
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| 02/22/2019 America East Championships (5K) |
Many people rightfully love this track as it has a steep bank and has a bouncier surface than many other indoor surfaces, making it very fast. I agree with all of the following, but the track feels a little old and could use a resurfacing. Still, it's an excellent track that's fast and fun to race on.
Track Rating: A
Facility Notes: BU outdoes many other facilities. Everything feels very new and while there's not a lot of room outside the track area, the track area is quite large and has more than enough seats to accommodate large events. Unlike other seats at other facilities, however these seats are stadium style not bleachers and are comfortable to sit in which provides a much nicer experience. Despite all this, the bathrooms are small and there are usually long lines which drops it down a point.
Facility Rating: A
3. Harvard University (Gordon Indoor Track)
Boston, MA
220y- banked
# of Races Run: 3
-USATF-NE Championships (College and Open)
-GBTC Invite (Open)
Current PRs at this track: 0
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| 2/24/2020 USATF-NE Championships (3K) |
Track Rating: When racing at Harvard recently, I was shocked how nice the track was, especially considering it's the least well-known and least frequented track of the 3 banked ones in Boston. While the surface is harder (and less bouncy) than BU's, it felt a lot newer and fresher to me, which I slightly preferred. I would additionally add that the colors were really nice, although that doesn't mean a whole lot. Like the BU, the bank is very steep but it feels perfect in lane 1. Really liked the atmosphere in here (BU is very bright and this was notably darker which I preferred).
2023 Notes: After racing here 2 more times, I can confirm this is a fantastic track. Unlike BU and Reggie, there are few signs of wear and tear on the track as it sports a vibrant dark red color and looks brand new/resurfaced (although I don't think it is). The material is distinctly different from any of the other Boston tracks with a harder, less responsive material but one with excellent grip. The bank is quite steep and is uncomfortable on the outside but feels right on the inside. As someone who doesn't like the fading colors of BU, the very bright light from the windows and the bouncy/trampoline like track, this is a more enjoyable track for me. It feels closer to racing on the roads without having a super soft or bouncy surface, yet the material is still excellent. This was a tough decision between this and #2, but the ultimate factor that pushed it back was that it's 220y and not 200m. I didn't actually realize this until my 3rd race here as the distance seemed the same from the stagger (it's very close). My final race I wasn't staggered and realized we were starting a little further up from the finish. It's a small detail, but throws the splits off slightly and is a less even distance than the standard 200m.
Track Rating: A
Facility: The surrounding area was completely owned by Harvard as their entire athletic facilities are located off campus. This made for the best surrounding/warm-up area of any indoor track by far as most other tracks are adjacent to busy city streets. It was nice to be able to warm up on the outdoor track, around the other facilities and on the famous Charles bike paths instead of venturing into sketchy areas (PCTA, BU, Reggie). I realize this isn't part of the indoor facility but it definitely bumps it up a point. The indoor facility was okay. There's some room but not a ton and the seating is very poor (old, wooden bleachers) and limited. It was hard to get around on the track level as it was just so crowded.
2023 Notes:
Did not find that either meet was "so crowded" like 2020. Not a ton of room, but nothing terrible. Seats aren't great, but again not terrible. The bathroom situation is terrible with maybe 3-4 stalls and long lines. I found a good work around for this in 2023 as the bubble (indoor field hockey field set up on the football turf) just outside the track had 4-5 port-a-potties that never had any lines.
Facility Rating: B
2. The Track at New Balance
Boston, MA
200m- banked
# of Races Run: 2
-Suffolk Invite
-Riverhawk Invite
Current PRs at this track: 1
Mile- 4:25.06
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| Suffolk Invite 01/14/2023 |
After many years of hype, the brand new The TRACK at New Balance was opened for competition in 2022 and I was really happy to race on it. The bright red material is perfect and vibrant. The material is spongy and responsive without having the strange BU trampoline feeling. Can't complain much about the track, although the hype around it being the best/fastest track in the world was overdone. The track did not feel fast either time I raced there (although I didn't feel great in either race) and I seriously doubt it's any faster than the Armory or Harvard (definitely not BU). The material or bank isn't even better, it just looks nicer. Overall, it's a fantastic track and a welcome addition to race on but certainly isn't a clear best.
Track Rating: A
Facility Notes:
While the track itself may have been slightly overhyped, the facility isn't. The entrance is really cool with a long staircase and a huge sign on the building front. It's located in the very nice Boston Landing area. The bathrooms are great with two large bathrooms and no lines for any meets I've been to. There's an entirely separate area for eating with chairs and tables and an separate floor for a warm-up indoor track (not that great, but I haven't seen this done better at another facility). This is all before getting to the track area itself. The track and viewing area is clearly designed for spectators in mind. Instead of having separate bleacher areas, there is one massive bleacher (there are also some smaller bleachers on the other side, but most of the seating is on the main entrance) seating up to 5,000 people that goes up many rows and expands the length of the track. Each seat has an excellent view of the entire track. The entire track area is absolutely massive and there are literally hundreds of lights at top. There is a separate area with 4 lanes to do strides/warm-ups on. A few minor downsides- the seats aren't especially comfortable (I sat at the end of the room near windows on the more comfortable floor), many of the bathroom stall locks are broken (which is a shame given it's a brand new facility), it can get very loud and it's not a great warm-up area having to do at least half a mile on cement sidewalks before getting to a bike path. Overall, this is definitely the highest standard for a indoor track facility in the US, if not the world.
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| Warm-up track |
Facility Rating: A+
1. The Armory
New York, NY
200m- banked
# of Races Run: 2
-New Balance Nationals (HS)
-Twilight Indoor NYC
Current PRs at this track: 0
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03/10/2017 New Balance Nationals Indoor (5K)
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It's hard to find something that is truly perfect but for indoor tracks, I can't imagine anything outdoing the armory. I've only raced there once but the track impressed me like no other. It's elevated, the surface feels new and fresh and the bank is at a perfect angle. That alone makes it the best track, but the atmosphere around the races is incredible. In three directions, the track is surrounding by stadium style seating that goes up several floors, the music/commentating is loud/vibrant and there's a even a jumbo screen in the center where you see yourself. Racing at the armory is an awesome experience that you can't find anywhere else. New Balance Nationals Indoor is certainly my favorite meet that I've been to in my track career.
2023 Notes: I don't have much to add this as my 2023 race went quite poorly. I didn't think much about how the track felt as I felt the race was set up poorly and just didn't go well which was where my thoughts were.
Track Rating: A+
Facility: The facility is absolutely outstanding and compliments the excellent track perfectly. It doesn't face the seating problems many other tracks do as there are several levels of comfortable seats, most with a good view of the track. The place is absolutely massive and many floors often have different event-related items set up. I remember the indoor warm-up area was disgustingly crowded but that doesn't impact my rating as warming up outside was always an option.
2023 Notes:
I still this is a fantastic facility, but The TRACK at New Balance shows what the A+ standard and the Amory isn't quite there. I really like the two levels of seating and it makes the second level a fun area to hang out and watch track. I prefer this over the single massive bleacher of the Track New Balance, although the viewing angles are certainly not as good. I like how the track is dark and is lit up rather than having bright windows. Entering the track area, the track feels so large and impressive that it's also intimidating. Entering the TRACK at New Balance is a cool feeling, but the Armory is more impressive. You can also eat while watching track at the Armory, but have to go behind the bleacher area to eat at New Balance (although there are TVs). The actually building and area is mediocre- not good for warm-ups indoor or outdoor. The bathrooms and indoor warm-up area is much better at TRACK at New Balance. Overall, these top two tracks definitely have the best atmosphere and spectator experience with a giant stadium like feel. The Armory just doesn't have the modern amenities of the New Balance building.
Facility Rating: A
What's next for indoor track: I may be "retiring" from full indoor track seasons. It was good to get in another full season this past winter but it's a definitely a grind to run so many laps in both training and racing and I'd prefer to switch over to long distance road running. Certainly haven't ruled out indoor track seasons in the future, but I don't have any plans to go back to the track. That being said, I'm open to doing a race or two in the middle of winter as I'd still like to break 8:40 in the 3K and 15 in the 5K plus it's nice to race at these great facility. Racing at Ocean Breeze is on my bucket list, and I certainly would like to return to the Armory, the Track at New Balance, Harvard and BU again.
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